NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - A surfer dangling his feet into the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's east coast was bitten by a shark, authorities said.

The 18-year-old man was surfing in water up to 8 feet deep near the New Smyrna Beach jetty Saturday when the shark swam up and bit him, said Scott Petersohn, spokesman for the Volusia County Beach Patrol.

"This was a case of mistaken identity," Petersohn told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. "The guy's foot dangling in the water looks a lot like a fish."

The man, who was not identified, suffered puncture wounds on his right foot, Petersohn said. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance in stable condition, officials said.

The size of the shark was not known.

The incident was the second confirmed shark bite off a beach in this county in less than a month, authorities said. A 15-year-old boy suffered minor injuries when he stepped on a shark Oct. 15 at the Ponce Inlet jetty.

An 18-year-old man surfing near the New Smyrna Beach jetty was bitten by a shark Saturday, authorities said.

The New Smyrna Beach man was in about 6 to 8 feet of water about 1 p.m., his foot dangling from a surfboard, when the shark bit him, said Scott Petersohn, spokesman for the Volusia County Beach Patrol. The man suffered puncture wounds to the top and bottom of his right foot, Petersohn said. The size of the shark was not known.

The surfer was taken to Bert Fish Medical Center by EVAC ambulance in stable condition, said Mark O´Keefe, spokesman for the service. The victim´s name was not available.

This was the second shark bite in less than a month. A 15-year-old boy was bitten on the foot Oct. 15 at the Ponce Inlet jetty after he stepped on a shark as he waded into the water. He suffered minor injuries. Petersohn said it´s normal for sharks to swim